Fuse for candles and the like



3936- H. c. GIBSON ET AL 2,042,461

FUSE FOR CANDLES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 1954 IN V EN TORS- hA/RA? V C. 6/5 so/v 041/; L. 1%005E/Q/QV JOHN STA/VK latented June 2, 1936 FUSE FOR CANDLES AND THE LIKE Harry 0. Gibson, Wharton, N. J David L. Woodberry, Aberdeen, Md., and John Stank,

ton, N. J.

Whar- Application November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753,162

2 Claims.

(Grated under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928;

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

5 This invention relates to a fuse for candles and the like and more particularly to a fuse which is reliable in firing and which has a definite time interval.

In the firing of hand grenades and gas gener- 'ating candles, it is very desirable to have an accurate time fuse which can be relied upon to fire the weapon after a predetermined short time interval. These weapons are frequently thrown by hand and their ignition is initiated when the weapon is thrown. The time'fuse must therefore be safe in use and must not fire prematurely, and yet the timing must be so accurate that the weapon can not be caught or picked up and thrown back at the attacker.

One object of this invention is to provide a safe and accurately timed fuse for weapons and pyrotechnic devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a delayed action fuse for weapons and pyro- 25 technic devices in which a delay of from one and one-half to two seconds is provided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a delayed action fuse which is effectively sealed to render it moisture proof and yet the ignition charge is so arranged and restricted that the sealing means is always disrupted upon firing and the weapon functions as designed.

With these and other objects in view which will be apparent from the following description 35 and claims, this invention consists in the parts and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising the invention may be varied in constructionj proportion, and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

In order to make the invention clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular construction which, for the purpose of explanation, has been 0 made the subject of illustration. In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a broken section of the improved fuse in firing position on a gas generating candle.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the fuse prior 35;; to assembly with a candle or grenade.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate like parts, there is shown a fuse body I formed at the top with an irregular shaped head portion 2 and at the bottom with a downward projecting threaded neck 3 having an unthreaded. extension Q of restricted diameter. The fuse body i is provided with a vertical bore 5 communicating in the head portion thereof with enlarged counter-bores 6, I and 8. The lower end of the vertical bore 5, communicates with an enlarged counter-bore 9 in the extension 4 at the bottom of the fuse. The head 2 of the fuse body I is provided with a horizontal bore Hi, extending therethrough' and opening into the outer surface of the fuse head.

A mandrel H is adapted to fit into the horizontal bore ID. The mandrel H is provided with a rat trap spring l2 therearound adapted to actuate radially the firing pin l3 when released by the lever M. The head of the fuse 2 is provided with a lever l4 adapted to hinge on the lip of the head 2 and pass over the top of the fuse head and extend downward alongside the candle body to which the fuse may be assembled. The lever 14 is adapted to hold the firing pin l3 while under force of the rat trap spring 12 in the unarmed position and is secured in this position by the safety pin I5.

I The vertical bore 5 is provided with a compressed black powder time train IS. The bore 9 is provided with a relay charge of loose black powder I! in the top thereof and contacts with the bottom of the time train 16 and the top of the ignition charge 20 through the restricted central bore l9 of the ignition charge cup l8.

The vertical bore 9 is provided further with an ignition charge cup l8, provided in the top thereof with a restricted central bore 19 communicating with the vertical bore 5 and relay charge ll. The ignition charge cup l8 carries an ignition charge of black powder 20 and is closed at the bottom with a thin disc 2| which is made waterproof by a waterproofing compound. The loaded ignition cup is adapted to fit into the bore 9 and be secured therein by staking or crimping the end of the extension 4 therein.

The vertical bore 6 is adapted to have a primer 22 fitted therein slightly above, but in alignment with the delay train l6 and is covered thereover with a tin foil disc 23 adapted to seat into the counter-bore 8 and be sealed therein to render the head of the fuse waterproof.

time the lever i i falls The complete fuse assembly thus far described is adapted for use with any weapon or pyrotechnic device in which a short time interval fuse is desirable. In Fig. l, we have shown an assembly of the fuse with a gas generating candle adapted. to be hand thrown, this view showing the fuse after firing. The candle body 25 may be formed of sheet metal and contains a charge of gas or smoke generating material 26 which will burn after ignition thereof. A layer of a suitable starter 21 is positioned on top of charge 26, both the charge and the starter mixture being preferably centrally recessed as shown in order to secure better ignition.

The top of candle 25 is closed by a top 28 having a central nipple 29 into which is screwed the complete fuse assembly, the lower end 4 of the fuse extending into the recess in the charge. Top 28 is provided'with a plurality of apertures covered with easily rupturable closures 3|, the generated gas or smoke escaping through these openings.

When it is desired to fire a candle or other pyrotechnics having the fuse forming the subject matter of this invention assembled therewith as shown in Figure 3 for illustrative purposes, it is only necessary to grasp the candle body in the palm of the hand holding the lever of the fuse tight against the body of the candle, then remove the safety, pin l5 therefrom by use of the pullring 24. This unlocks the lever I 4 from the head of the fuse but it is still held in the safe position with the hand. The candle is then thrown with a swing of the arm at which away from the fuse head, releasing the firing pin [3 which rotates under the force of the rat trap. spring I2, firing the primer 22 which is turn ignites the delay train 16, which burns for the desired time then ignites the relay charge I! which in turn burns through the central hole I9 in the top of the ignition charge cup 3 and ignites the ignition charge 20. Due to the restricted central bore IS in the top of the cup 18, the hot gases evolved from 1 the ignition charge are caused toflow downward and blow the disc 2| from the bottom of the ignition charge cup It? as the disc offers less resistance to the flow of gases than does the restricted bore in the top of the cup. These hot gases are directed downward on the starter mixture of the candle thereby creating ignition of the starter mixture and subsequent functioning of the candle.

The relay charge [1 of black powder substantially fills the space between the lower end of the time fuse l6 and the ignition charge 20, and since this relay charge is loose, it contacts with the fuse I6 and charge 20. When the relay charge is ignited, the ignition charge is positively fired and the gases suddenly generated in cup l8 at once break through the seal 2|, since the small opening I!) in the top of the cup restricts upward movement of these gases.

There is accomplished by this invention a fuse 5 for candles or other pyrotechnics having a combination ofpowder elements to give the desired delay after the candle is thrown from the hand and to cause the candle to function dependably.

While we have shown and described the pre- 10 ferred" embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of construction or arrangement herein set forth by way of illustration as it is apparent that many changes and 5 variations may be made therein by those skilled in the art, without departing from or exceeding the scope of the appended claims. For example, it may be advantageous in some cases to make the restriction provided by the perforated bottom 0 of cup l8 as a part of the tubular body I. In such construction, the cup would be eliminated and the explosive charge 20 either placed directly in the lower end of the fuse body I or placed in a cylinder for insertion therein, in either instance a suitable seal being placed across the lower end.

We claim:

1. A fuse for grenades, candles, and the like comprising an infrangible tubular body, a primer and an explosive charge within said body, a fuse interposed between said primer and explosive charge, frangible means for sealing the lower end of said body below the explosive charge against moisture, a restriction within said body between said fuse and explosive charge whereby gases generated by the explosive charge are caused to rupture the frangible sealing means, and a relay charge of explosive in contact with and connecting adjacent surfaces of said fuse and explosive charge.

2. A fuse for grenades, candles, and the like comprising an infrangible tubular body, a primer adjacent the upper end and an explosive charge adjacent the lower end thereof within said body, a time fuse between said primer 5 and explosive charge, a perforated plate between said time fuse and explosive charge, a relay charge of explosive extending through the perforated plate and in contact with said fuse and explosive charge, and a frangible seal closing the lower end of said tubular body, said lower end adapted to be positioned closely adjacent to but spaced from the starting mixture of the grenade, candle, or the like, whereby the hot gases of the explosive charge are the starting mixture.

HARRY C. GIBSON. DAVID L. WOODBERRY. JOHN STANK.

projected downwardly upon 

